Lolegaon, this small Lepcha village sits pretty on the extreme edge of a Himalayan ridge at a height of 1675 meters and is hidden away behind the thick canopy of clouds in the hills of Kalimpong (nearest town). Narrow winding roads will take you to this green paradise and you will be struck by its unearthly beauty. The damp trails, the dark and dense forests will be a welcoming relief as it will heal your tired soul. Lolegaon offers one of the best views of the famous Mt. Kanchenjunga range in the north-eastern India.

The first thing which greets you when you step down in this village is the rich and pungent smell of decomposing leaves from the surrounding forest, such is the wealth of nature here. The place is famous for its ancient Heritage Forest which is something that must be ticked off your list. This age-old forest is home to tall towering Oaks, Pines, Firs, Birch and Cypress. Some rare variety of ferns and orchids can also be spotted here. The silence of the forest will leave you speechless as you begin to leave behind the stress of your otherwise monotonous city life. A short "Canopy Walk" through this dense forest will be awe-inspiring when you watch myriads of butterflies fluttering about and rare varieties of birds chirping away. Nature lovers and naturalists and photographers often engage in bird watching here. A hanging footbridge running through the woods offers a great view of the forest expanse. The wood is also famous for sheltering endangered Himalayan species such as the elusive black bear and the mountain goat.

There are several places of attraction which can be visited from Lolegaon if you can hire a cab. These cab drivers are well versed with the routes and can take you can visit places like the old Lolegaon Monastery, Ramitey Dara (sunset point), Kalimpong, Lava, Kolakham and Charkhol. The most popular sightseeing however is "Jhandi Dara", a wooded hilltop 4-5 km drive from Lolegaon. This is the vantage point from where one can sit and admire the most spectacular sunrise and sunset over the snow-capped mountains. On sunny days one can view all the main peaks of the Mt. Kanchenjunga range and if lucky will able to spot the snow-clad Mt. Everest too, standing in the distant. Many trekking routes to the villages like Samthar and Relly and remote hills of Kalimpong have been carved out to let trekkers get a taste of adventure.

The best time to visit Lolegaon is between March and May when the weather will be pleasant. You can visit “Lolegaon” from Siliguri on a 4 hours’ drive via Kalimpong and Lava. However, do book your accommodation in advance.